This result lifted Swansea City to the top of the table for the first time this season and left Bournemouth rooted at the bottom. The discrepancy in skill levels suggested the teams' positions are an accurate reflection of their prospects for the next seven months.

It was a fourth successive victory for Swansea, playing with the confidence of a team that had thrashed one of their early-season promotion rivals, Leyton Orient, 5-0 away in their previous league match. From the outset they controlled the centre of midfield thanks to the poise and passing range of Darren Pratley and the former Holland Under-23 international Ferrie Bodde, while up front Jason Scotland and Warren Feeney, who struck twice against his old club, were the perfect combination of strength and speed. "They are as good a side as I have seen," said Bournemouth's manager, Kevin Bond. "They have some excellent players."

Swansea's pass-and-move style is reminiscent of how their manager, Roberto Martínez, used to play and for long spells they looked a team 23 places above their patched-up hosts. "I think the players are enjoying their football," said Martínez. "The partnerships are gelling and they really know how to hurt the opposition."

Bournemouth's stadium may be sponsored by Fitness First but good health has been lacking in their squad in recent weeks. For the fifth straight game Bond was unable to field any of his four first-choice defenders because of injury and his 43-year-old assistant Rob Newman was required to take a place among the substitutes. It is fortunate the captain, Darren Anderton, whose many injuries once earned him the nickname Sicknote, has been fit to play every minute of Bournemouth's campaign. He had the first chance of the game but shot wide from 10 yards.

It was not long before Swansea took the lead. Bodde curled a quickly taken free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards and the lead was doubled when Dennis Lawrence nodded in Thomas Butler's corner. It would have been understandable had Bournemouth, who have taken only one point from their six home league games, capitulated at this stage. However, they were given some encouragement when the referee mistakenly awarded them a penalty after half an hour - both managers agreed Lawrence made contact with the ball rather than Danny Hollands' leg - and Lee Bradbury scored.

Bournemouth had chances to equalise in the second half but Swansea were a constant threat on the counter-attack and Feeney's two goals secured the victory. First he scored from the penalty spot after Marc Wilson handled Butler's corner, then he dinked Pratley's through-ball over the goalkeeper Neil Moss. "That's why we are going up, that's why you're going down," sang the Swansea fans.